Monarch Place has been providing a safe haven for women and children fleeing domestic violence for nearly two decades.
After establishing as a non-profit charitable society in 1997, WINGS (Women in Need Gaining Strength) opened Monarch Place in New Westminster in December 1998. Since then, several thousand women and children have found shelter and support at Monarch Place.
“We appreciate everything that the community does to support what we do for the women and the children,” said administrative coordinator Susan Stephen. “Without their support we wouldn’t be in the place we are in, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”
WINGS provides 12 emergency first-stage shelter beds for women and children fleeing violence at Monarch Place and 11 second-stage housing beds at Chrysalis Place, both in New West. It opened a new transition home in Delta earlier this year and will build a five-unit affordable rental housing building in New Westminster.
WINGS recently held its annual Christmas party, which was attended by about 200 women and children who’ve been assisted by its programs.
“We provide food. We give them gifts. We have crafts and games and things for the kids. They get some social time, so people who have connected in the houses have a chance to reconnect again,” Stephen said. “It’s a bit of a laid back time where they can take their minds off of everything that’s going on and enjoy themselves.”
While the Christmas party has passed, Monarch Place still welcomes gifts that can be dispersed to folks involved in its programs.
“We actually accept things year round. Along with Christmas, we do birthdays so there is a continuous rotation of things that go through here,” Stephen said. “For Christmas, every woman that comes in between now and Christmas and leaves between now and Christmas will get a gift. Even though we have had the party, and made up gift bags for the party, there is still that need as it goes along.”
For many people, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, Christmas can be a tough time of year, and they appreciate knowing that they haven’t been forgotten.
“The gifts are in some cases the only toys that their kids have,” Stephen said. “It’s a huge impact to them. In some cases, this is their moment of escape and they grab what they can throw into a bag and they are gone. Being able to have things that make their lives easier and more comfortable is a major impact on how they can deal with things.”
Monarch Place’s Christmas wish list includes items such as towels and face cloths, dish towels and dish cloths, birthday cards and gift bags, boxes of chocolates or Christmas candy, pantry goods, coffee, office supplies, deodorant, makeup, nail polish, tampons, umbrellas and large Rubbermaid and Tupperware containers.
Because they’re often more challenging to buy for, gifts for teens and pre-teens are the biggest need at this time. Items such as bath products (for male and female), headphones, games, adult colouring books with pencil crayons, journals, makeup, manicure set and gift cards (iTunes, movie tickets, fast good, coffee shops) are suggested gifts for teens.
In addition to its housing programs, the non-profit provides outreach support services and other community programs.
To help, call 604-521-1888 or go to www.monarchplace.org.
